The United Kingdom has sanctioned six Russian Prison Chiefs in charge of the Arctic penal colony where opposition leader Alexei Navalny died, by freezing their assets.
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also said they will also be banned from travelling to the UK.
The Western leaders say the blame for Navalny’s death lies with the Russian authorities, which includes President Putin.
“Those responsible for Navalny’s brutal treatment should be under no illusion, as we will hold them accountable,” Cameron said.
The British government has called for Navalny’s body to be released to his family immediately and for a full and transparent investigation to take place.
The appeal from the UK echoes similar calls from Navalny’s mother, who was filmed on Tuesday outside the colony where he died saying she had been trying to see him for five days but did not even know where he was.
Those sanctioned by the UK include, Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin- head of the penal colony, Sergey Nikolaevich Korzhov – deputy head, Vasily Alexandrovich Vydrin – deputy head, Vladimir Ivanovich Pilipchik – deputy head Aleksandr Vladimirovich Golyakov – deputy head, Aleksandr Valerievich Obraztsov – deputy head
Announcing the sanctions, Lord Cameron said it was “clear that the Russian authorities saw Navalny as a threat and they tried repeatedly to silence him. No-one should doubt the oppressive nature of the Russian system.
“That’s why we’re today sanctioning the most senior prison officials responsible for his custody in the penal colony where he spent his final months.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK and its allies were considering “all options to hold Russia and Putin to account”.
Navalny, who was the Russian opposition’s most significant leader for the last decade, had been serving a 19-year sentence on charges many viewed as politically motivated.
Mr Putin has not directly commented on his death. The Kremlin did acknowledge his death and said the Russian president was aware.
The US has also announced it will be unveiling its own package of sanctions against Russia in response to the activist’s death and the ongoing war in Ukraine on Friday.
Chioma Kalu
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